Overall Opinions of NHK 2010

I watched on the computer and Univeral Sport Chanel. I'm not all that on Takahashi's bandwagon, don't see him as a good presenter, but he is definitely good competitor. There was another Japanese boy - quite frail - but had excellent technique and good body language. Will look forward to seeing him again. Abbott is always good at the beginning of the season, and he will be in the Finals, but he will fade at Worlds and maybe Nats.

I feel sorry for Kevin vd Perren. He was once a contender.

Nice to see Rachael without those chipmonk cheeks. Katy Couric got rid of them some time ago. Rachael did well, as did Carolina, but the Ladies just don't get to me. It's all a rehash of what they've done before. I think Mao is getting bored as Yu Na did at Worlds.2010.

I think Pang and Tong will go gold right up to, and include Sochi.

Bravo for Weaver and Poje. It's time for them to shine. Sorry, but Charlie does not get to me.

I agree that Abbott doing well in the Grand Prix doesn't mean much - he peaks too early, or something. He'll shine at nationals and then World's will come around and he'll bomb. But his coach looks FAB! Her hair is gorgeous!

I agree that Abbott doing well in the Grand Prix doesn't mean much - he peaks too early, or something. He'll shine at nationals and then World's will come around and he'll bomb.

How is placing 5th at Worlds considered bombing? Jeremy's one of the reasons the US can send 3 men to Worlds in Japan. Yes, he's had the potential to medal at Worlds before; he could have easily won the World title in 2009 if he had gone clean in both segments and he could have won World gold or silver in 2010 if he had been completely clean both segments there too, but he has never delivered a 2010 World SP performance a la Nobunari Oda - that is bombing when you single every one of your planned jumps and fail to advance to the LP.

Most of the segments could have been better, but it was the first competition of the season. The ladies seems really up in the air right now, what with Mao down in 8th place and Kostner back on top (weird). I'd hoped for more from Ashley Wagner. As for KVDP not being a contender anymore, I think it's obvious that he's suffered under COP, as his non-jump elements are not the best. They may have improved slightly from last year though? Maybe? In dance, my thought that Ilynikh and Katsalapov (sp?) had been overhyped was somewhat shown to be true. I'm more interested in the Shibutanis, actually. I hope Weaver and Poje can make the World team this year. It would be sad with this much improvement if they didn't. Nothing stuck in my mind that much about pairs - it was a rather lackluster event.

Ladies was underwhelming to say the least. It was tough watching Mao struggle so much. But reworking her jumps is going to be a long process, so I hope she hangs in there. And Carolina seems to be back to the skater from 2008. (Still sloppy but not bombing anymore).
Enjoyed the men's event. I liked Dai's short but thought Jeremy had the best freeskate. Amodio was very entertaining in his MJ program.

1. That no matter how good the men are, we're more interested in the ladies
So bizarre. The men were quite good. Many early season jitters, but considering that, it was a respectable skate with some thrilling highlights. But the women's event, which by all rights was a semi-disaster, has 50% more posts (23 pages to the men's 15) at this point. I don't get it.

2. Amodio will be a star
How many young skaters have that level of command, that level of confidence? The crop of young men coming up are really quite diverse and that's pretty awesome, but he's making a case for himself to vault to the front of the pack.

3. Up from juniors with a point to make
I/K: In context, this was a breathtaking debut. They came in 4th at their first senior GP. They've been skating together LESS THAN TWO YEARS. Keep that in mind. Davis/White had nearly ten when they made their senior debut. V/M had 9. I know people had stratospheric expectations, but this is a good result.

Murakami and Hanyu: She medalled in her senior debut. He had two rock solid skates that foretells a good future.

Shibutanis: The growth spurt really did wonders. They've got an old fashioned elegance ot them that is very appealing.

Takahashi/Tran: They hung on. Can we expect to see them at senior worlds this year? It's not like Japan has any other pairs teams. I have to admit I don't like the junior-senior flip flop (it's okay to go to one event for experience, but competing on both circuits seems unecessarily taxing)

4. Anna and Luca... should we be worried?
They're not consistent, true, but they rarely are this off. They were supposed to be on the podium easily (shows you what we know) but they ended up in fifth - not only behind the third Canadian team, but the two junior upstarts. This is not the beginning they wanted. Out of the GPF too. You've gotta look at Skate Canada and think everyone's thanking their lucky stars that they're competing there.

Sometimes, there are teams that don't ever make it to the poll position in their country and I really hope that they get at least one season as the Italian number ones, but Alessandrini/Vaturi are a very intriguing team and I expect they'll have their supporters.

5. The number two dance spot in the USA just became VERY interesting
Okay, so it was supposed to be D/W, S/B, C/Z and then the Shibs vs the Hubbells for spot four. But S/B are out due to injury (hopefully not career ending, because I was looking forward to seeing their An American in Paris routine) and the Shibs just did better on the senior GP than the Hubbells have come close to doing (and their scores here are ten points clear of the Hubbells at Finlandia, fwiw). It'll be neat to see if C/Z can medal at Skate Canada (which, without V/M, has a wide open race for bronze, with four teams in the hunt, imo). I expect Nationals to be a nail-biter, even with three spots.

1. That no matter how good the men are, we're more interested in the ladies
So bizarre. The men were quite good. Many early season jitters, but considering that, it was a respectable skate with some thrilling highlights. But the women's event, which by all rights was a semi-disaster, has 50% more posts (23 pages to the men's 15) at this point. I don't get it.

2. Amodio will be a star
How many young skaters have that level of command, that level of confidence? The crop of young men coming up are really quite diverse and that's pretty awesome, but he's making a case for himself to vault to the front of the pack.

3. Up from juniors with a point to make
I/K: In context, this was a breathtaking debut. They came in 4th at their first senior GP. They've been skating together LESS THAN TWO YEARS. Keep that in mind. Davis/White had nearly ten when they made their senior debut. V/M had 9. I know people had stratospheric expectations, but this is a good result.

Murakami and Hanyu: She medalled in her senior debut. He had two rock solid skates that foretells a good future.

Shibutanis: The growth spurt really did wonders. They've got an old fashioned elegance ot them that is very appealing.

Takahashi/Tran: They hung on. Can we expect to see them at senior worlds this year? It's not like Japan has any other pairs teams. I have to admit I don't like the junior-senior flip flop (it's okay to go to one event for experience, but competing on both circuits seems unecessarily taxing)

4. Anna and Luca... should we be worried?
They're not consistent, true, but they rarely are this off. They were supposed to be on the podium easily (shows you what we know) but they ended up in fifth - not only behind the third Canadian team, but the two junior upstarts. This is not the beginning they wanted. Out of the GPF too. You've gotta look at Skate Canada and think everyone's thanking their lucky stars that they're competing there.

Sometimes, there are teams that don't ever make it to the poll position in their country and I really hope that they get at least one season as the Italian number ones, but Alessandrini/Vaturi are a very intriguing team and I expect they'll have their supporters.

5. The number two dance spot in the USA just became VERY interesting
Okay, so it was supposed to be D/W, S/B, C/Z and then the Shibs vs the Hubbells for spot four. But S/B are out due to injury (hopefully not career ending, because I was looking forward to seeing their An American in Paris routine) and the Shibs just did better on the senior GP than the Hubbells have come close to doing (and their scores here are ten points clear of the Hubbells at Finlandia, fwiw). It'll be neat to see if C/Z can medal at Skate Canada (which, without V/M, has a wide open race for bronze, with four teams in the hunt, imo). I expect Nationals to be a nail-biter, even with three spots.

umm... you're the one who breaks people silences ^_^

just speaking for myself, i am NOT more interested in the ladies. if i'm allowed to venture a guess, the ladies events have more posts because, well, IMO, it's rubber necking. it's a disaster, everybody's got some input, some advice, some reassurance for those about to jump off the ledges, something like that.

dai... i love him, but i'd rather see him slay monsters than dance in the long if he's already danced in the short. OTOH, if he just skates well i'm happy. that's love.

amodio is already a star in my eye, but i'm not a fan of the gloves. or the posing. or the stops.

jeremy... i'm starting to see what people say about his soul shining through, but to me, more sparing choreography serves him better than more busy choreography (short program). still waiting for him to have a program that will affect me like MK's lyra angelica or rachmaninov ('98 version)

best discoveries: the shibutanis, takahashi and tran. the shibutanis have IT, what i like about ice dance in general (they're not the only ones i admire, but it's nice to see another up and coming pair that has it). as for t&t, nice lifts = reason to watch pairs for me. otherwise i can watch the ladies do their thing w/o some guy obstructing my view of them (LOL i speak as a fan of M&D and G&G... which reminds me of dai and abbott... except dai has more G&G in him than abbott has of M&D... just one opinion.)

ETA i was only joking about the men in pairs--artur was the star half of M&D, and i have enormous respect for men like solkowy of S&S, etc.

Ladies was underwhelming to say the least. It was tough watching Mao struggle so much. But reworking her jumps is going to be a long process, so I hope she hangs in there. And Carolina seems to be back to the skater from 2008. (Still sloppy but not bombing anymore).
Enjoyed the men's event. I liked Dai's short but thought Jeremy had the best freeskate. Amodio was very entertaining in his MJ program.

It's strange. It's just like last year. The women were rather underwhelming throughout the GP, with the exception of Yuna at Bombard and her Skate America SP, and I suppose a few skates from other skaters here and there. But overall, most people seemed to be expecting the men to be the highlight of the Olympics. Instead it was the women. Turns out, they all brought their A-game. Maybe it'll be the same this year. Hope so.

1. That no matter how good the men are, we're more interested in the ladies
So bizarre. The men were quite good. Many early season jitters, but considering that, it was a respectable skate with some thrilling highlights. But the women's event, which by all rights was a semi-disaster, has 50% more posts (23 pages to the men's 15) at this point. I don't get it.

Ohh ITA.. and I really hate it.. Sometimes I watch a mens event and want to come here to discuss about how great or at least how interesting they were, but theres no one in the thread. They are all discussing which lady bombed the worst..

just speaking for myself, i am NOT more interested in the ladies. if i'm allowed to venture a guess, the ladies events have more posts because, well, IMO, it's rubber necking. it's a disaster, everybody's got some input, some advice, some reassurance for those about to jump off the ledges, something like that.

.

I think you are right and I might also add the Ladies are much harder to predict.
Looking at NHK and SC almost all of us could predict 2 of the three men who will medal. Some can pick the podium and even the podium order.

Try that with the Ladies.

I don't follow Pairs and Dance as closely but they also appear to be more predictable.
I predict D/W will not lose an event this season or until V/M are recovered and back at full strength.

Am I a Dance expert? No way - just know the Dance podium follows reputations very closely.

I think you are right and I might also add the Ladies are much harder to predict.
Looking at NHK and SC almost all of us could predict 2 of the three men who will medal. Some can pick the podium and even the podium order.

Try that with the Ladies.

I don't follow Pairs and Dance as closely but they also appear to be more predictable.
I predict D/W will not lose an event this season or until V/M are recovered and back at full strength.
Am I a Dance expert? No way - just know the Dance podium follows reputations very closely.